His gaze made me feel inexplicably warm, and I turned away.
The close space made the Duke’s scent, reminiscent of a dawn forest, more perceptible.
‘Someone tried to kill me and failed, resulting in my memory loss?’
“The Duke pondered, “Could it be that someone tried to kill you before you turned five?”
I shook my head.
“We can’t fully believe the words of a fortune-teller we’ve just met, but I am curious about what he saw.”
After a while, the old man reappeared, holding a precious-looking stone in his palm.
“It’s a seer stone made from a magic stone of the now-destroyed Ventus Kingdom. It’s nearly a hundred years old, which makes it even more special.”
“Ventus?”
My mother’s kingdom?
He unwrapped the paper around the stone, revealing a small translucent green stone.
“Yes. If this stone accepts you as its owner, it will shine clearly. It will record everything your heart desires.”
He carefully placed the stone on my palm.
A mysterious warmth spread from my fingertips, and the stone began to glow a clear green light.
‘Ah…’
I heard the Duke catch his breath.
“You’ve finally found an owner. It’s the first time since it was made.”
“How much should we pay for it?” asked the Duke.
The old man replied, “It’s become too precious to put a price on it now. But please pay whatever you think is right.”
“Let’s give a hundred thousand lunas. Is that acceptable?”
The Duke suggested.
A hundred thousand lunas could buy three noble estates in the Empire.
The old man bowed deeply.
“I’ll accept it, but since you’re giving more, I have something to tell the lady. Could you please step out for a moment, Your Grace?”
Hesitantly, the Duke left the room, but he left the door slightly open.
Was it an accident, or did he do it on purpose?
As the Duke’s footsteps faded, I wondered if he had really gone far or was still nearby, listening.
The old man then smiled faintly.
“You will live because of that man you came with, and you will die because of him. However, your fate will change depending on the choices you make. I wish you well…”
“What is your name?” I asked.
“I have none. For someone with not many days left to live, a name is unnecessary.”
“Who are you?”
“Just an ordinary fortune-teller. A bit skilled, that’s all.”
“Thank you.”
I wanted to ask more, but I couldn’t because of the Duke outside.
I already know what my fate will be.
I’ve committed my life to Sion Belpast, so my fate will be intertwined with his. Even if I die, everyone dies at least once. If it’s not without troubles, I can’t help it. I’ve already prepared myself for that.
“If I have a chance, I’ll visit again, alone this time.”
The old man quietly bowed his head in front of me.
I turned around quietly.
The Duke had already paid and was standing outside the tavern.
His blue eyes, as he looked back at me, were unusually dark.
‘Did he hear what the old man said?’
My heart ached for reasons unknown.
On the way back, we caught a carriage with clear windows.
The Duke didn’t ask me anything.
I decided to attend the ball as a prospective knight and as Arcadia’s aide. Emils and Bran were also coming along. Maybe that’s why Bran has been unusually friendly these past few days.
And today, one day before the ball, Hans visited my room with a completed uniform of the Northern Knights for me.
“Steward… It’s beautiful. Is this really mine?”
I was genuinely amazed. My heart swelled with emotion.
A light pinkish hue blended into the white trousers, clinging to my body. A white top. Long, thin, and light navy blue boots. The black cape of the Northern Knights with the ‘Shield of the Empire’ emblem embroidered with green sapphires.
Tiny sapphire granules not only adorned the emblem but also the collar and cuffs of the uniform, enhancing its beauty.
I was no longer wearing the assassin’s white cloak but the uniform of the Northern Knights.
Hans spoke.
“This is a specially ordered uniform for the first female knight of the Northern Knights. We paid extra attention to the material and fit compared to the men’s uniforms.”
“I’m really, really happy.”
Hans asked again.
“Are you sure you like it? Why do you look like you’re about to cry? Or would you prefer a spring dress from Madame Lumière?”
“No, I really like it, Steward. I’ve been waiting just for this uniform.”
“Is that so?”
Hans smiled gently like a kind grandfather.
Then, Ergo approached with the completed half-mask.
“It fits well. Esdel, try on your finished mask. I made it very sturdy, so it won’t come off even if someone tries to remove it with their hands or a sword. Oh, and it’s very light.”
Ergo winked.
A mask that would not break or tear, even if Medea herself tried.
The mask, reminiscent of the moonlight, was silver.
Tiny, transparent diamond engravings of little bellflower patterns beautifully embossed around the edges.
My voice cracked slightly.
“Thank you, Ergo. Is it really alright for me to receive something so precious?”
“Of course. It’s also a sign for you to be stronger.”
“Yes, I’ll be stronger. Now I’m fully armed.”
Tears welled up, and I smiled.
At my words, both Hans and Ergo showed proud smiles.
The Duke boarded the grand carriage of the Belpast family. Arcadia, Bran, and I followed on horses, escorting the carriage to the imperial palace.
Finally, we arrived in front of the ‘Silver Lucella Hall,’ where the three-day ball was to be held. The doors opened, revealing the hall, vast and grand, seemingly endless.
“The Shield of the Empire, Duke Sion Belpast of the North, has arrived!”
The servant’s loud voice echoed through the hall, announcing our entrance.
The hundreds of nobles, gathered in small groups and chatting, suddenly turned their attention towards us.
“Look, it’s the Duke of the North!”
“To see him at a ball instead of on the battlefield, what a day!”
“The emissary of the North!”
Murmurs of surprise and curiosity rippled through the crowd, reaching my ears.
The Duke, in his black cape and navy blue uniform, adorned with the Belpast crest, entered the hall, exuding an immense aura of authority, unseen at the mansion. I wondered how the nobles, who saw his front, reacted, as even his back view was imposing.
Unable to meet his gaze, everyone respectfully bowed to the Duke.
I followed at the end of the procession, scanning the hall without turning my head.
Far off, beneath the imperial dais, I spotted Medea standing.
She, too, was looking at me.
Ex-husband Wants Reconciliation
One-line summary: Chasing the wife to the crematorium (making an effort to attract someone who has become indifferent), the female lead doesn’t look back, the second male lead takes the position.
Intro:
To repay the kindness of the older generation, Su Mu crossed into a female-dominated world and became a live-in daughter-in-law of the Yan family, single-handedly saving the Yan family from fire and water.
But her husband, Yan Jiyue, the eldest son of the Yan family, treated her with sarcasm and never showed her a good face.
It wasn’t until after Su Mu’s death that this pampered and arrogant young master shed a few fake tears and pretended to want to die for love.
This life’s kindness was enough. If there was a next life, she would definitely kick Yan Jiyue away.
Who knew that the heavens would be so kind as to allow her to be reborn, returning to the time when she had just married into the Yan family.
Su Mu glanced at the Yan eldest son, who still spoke coldly to her, and threw a divorce letter in front of him.
“Let’s divorce!”
***
Yan Jiyue never imagined that he would be reborn. He happily went to find Su Mu, wanting to make up for the mistakes he had made in his ignorant youth.
Wasn’t the reason the heavens allowed him to be reborn to let him reconcile with Su Mu?
But when he pushed open the door to Su Mu’s room, the person lying on the bed was another man.
Su Mu’s personal attendant, Xie Yi.
Yan Jiyue hated him so much that his teeth itched. In front of Su Mu, Xie Yi was a gentle and considerate whisperer of sweet nothings, but in reality, he was vicious-hearted and deliberately sabotaged their husband and wife relationship.
In the previous life, it was he who secretly hid in Su Mu’s coffin and committed suicide, stealing a step ahead of him to be buried with Su Mu.
Yan Jiyue’s eyes were filled with hatred as he cursed, “What kind of thing are you? Your background is lowly, what right do you have to occupy Su Mu?”
Xie Yi looked at the sleeping Su Mu and no longer pretended to be a whisperer of sweet nothings.
He proudly stuck out his belly, “I have the right because my belly is capable of giving the Wife-master a daughter.”
***
Yan Jiyue was consumed with jealousy. He spread rumors that Xie Yi had once been branded with the mark of a “harlot” on his chest.
But on the night Xie Yi cut off the flesh bearing that mark, Su Mu suddenly realized something was amiss.
“How did you know the exact moment I was poisoned? And why did you show up a month early?”
Xie Yi remained silent, blood from his wound soaking through his robes. His sapphire eyes brimmed with anguish – or was it just a flawless act?
Between a once-arrogant husband now seeking redemption, and a gentle soul willing to die for her – who truly held the darkest secrets? And could it be that Su Mu and Yan Jiyue weren’t the only ones given a second chance at life…?
[Reading Guide]
1. True divorce, chasing the wife to the crematorium, the female lead doesn’t look back, the male lead is Xie Yi.
2. The ex-husband did not cheat, he just realized too late and didn’t realize that he liked the female lead.
_____
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